Message to Staff: Feb. 28, 2019
Hello, MODOC Team!
I want to thank the 5,100 staff members who completed the statewide Missouri government employee pulse survey in December! Your feedback guides our decisions and helps us make the department better. Your willingness to participate shows us you care and want to help.
The pulse survey was a follow-up to a comprehensive organizational health survey that 75% of our staff completed in July 2017. I am happy to report that, based on the results, things are improving. Below are some examples.
Direction
In 2017, most of you said you didn’t know the direction of the department.
The pulse survey shows an increase in staff who report knowing where we’re going.
This is a good start! Of course, we want everyone on board with our strategic plan and initiatives. The strategic plan is our road map. Review it here. Check the monthly newsletter for updates on initiatives or talk to your supervisor. We are happy to answer questions. A summary:
Aspiration
- Improving Lives for Safer Communities
Themes
- Workplace safety
- Workforce development
- Reducing risk and recidivism
We know we need to do more communicating about the details of our strategic plan and how you affect its success. Last summer was our first stab at beginning the conversation. Rest assured, this was not meant to be a “one and done” type of training initiative; we want the conversation to be ongoing. Stay tuned for more ways to learn and talk about the strategic plan!
Management
In 2017, most of you said you felt unappreciated and disconnected from your supervisors and leadership.
The pulse survey shows an increase in reports of supervisors seeking your feedback and opinions, plus an increase in leadership support.
All supervisors have completed The Corrections Way training, which gives them the tools to build stronger teams and become better leaders. We are committed to improving our work culture. When dealing with each other, remember to: trust, build rapport, respect, listen, appreciate and value those around you. If we all focus on doing these things, imagine the potential!
Remember to attend and participate in the town halls in your locations. They are meant to be an opportunity for you to voice concerns, ask questions and get answers. If leadership doesn’t have the answer, they will get it and report back to everyone either before or at the next town hall. Scheduling and preparing take time. Please respect and appreciate your administration. They hold the town hall for you.
Pay
The 2017 survey highlighted pay as the No. 1 concern of corrections employees.
Since becoming your director, I have made staff pay increases my top priority.
My team and I heard from you that we need a base increase for all employees as well as an increase that recognizes experience and years of service. We worked to develop a pay plan that does exactly that. It raises the base pay to get more people in the door and raises pay for experienced workers to help us retain our skilled staff. And it applies to everyone except executive-level staff. This is the largest pay plan in MODOC history, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. (Review the plan here.) My team and I have been working at the Capitol tirelessly to help get this plan approved by the General Assembly. Governor Parson and his team are 100% supportive of you and of the plan, and I am very excited to say that we have received overwhelmingly positive reception from legislators. Positive feedback from our employees is tremendously helpful and will make passing this pay plan easier.
As we continue our improvement efforts, please take a moment to nominate the person or people at your work location whom you respect and trust. We want to know who influences the people around you in a positive way. Identifying those people will give you a voice at the table as we make decisions that affect operations, staff, processes, etc. It’s another way for us to make sure we are listening to you.
My team and I are focused on making this department the best place to work. It takes all of us; we all need to do our part. It also takes time; big changes require careful planning. These survey results show we are heading in the right direction, but there is still more work to be done to get where we want to be. Major Crane, from Algoa Correctional Center, recently said it best: “We are winning with what we have.” His statement keeps our progress in perspective, and I appreciated hearing that from him. I couldn’t agree more.
I am so very proud of each and every one of you at every level. I believe in you. Thank you for all you do.
Be professional. Be positive. Most important: Be safe.
Anne L. Precythe
Director